Air conditioning system



Sept. 27, 1955 LYMAN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.4, 1951 INVEN TOR. Jenn/4 EL mm/v w y/1%;

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AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 4, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 24 wax/wA/A' Fig.2

INVENTOR. Jam/4 1 1 YMfi/V United Sates 2,718,840 Patented Sept. 27,1955 free AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Samuel Edson Lyman, Elizabeth, N. 3.,assignor to Buensod-Stacey, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporationof Delaware Application August 4, 1951, Serial No. 240,428

Claims. (Cl. 9838) This invention relates to air conditioning apparatusand especially to a regulating arrangement for mixing conditioned airbefore it is admitted into the zone or room.

One of the problems in prior conditioning devices, especially where airis supplied under high pressure, has been objectionable noise in theroom due to the conditioning device. Also, when the regulating meanscontrolling the proportionate amount of warm and cold air is operated inresponse to temperature in the room being conditioned, it is desirableto prevent an upset of the existing conditions because of said change.The problem particularly arises if a closer damper is opened at a timewhen the other damper already is open. The total amount of air fed fromthe cold air duct and the warm air duct at any one time should becontrolled so that there cannot be a sudden and critical increase beyonda predetermined amount of the total air fed into the room at any oneinstant. If the total amount of air is not limited, the aforementionedundesirable noise and upset conditions will occur.

As a closed valve is opened, there is a change in the static andvelocity head relationship and this is particularly true when arelatively small supply pipe carrying air at relatively high pressure isinvolved.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved easilyadjustable damper arrangement for proportioning the air admitted to azone or room and wherein objectionable noise and upset conditions willbe reduced to a minimum.

The present invention can be employed in conjunction with low pressureair conditioning systems, but it is particularly useful when it isemployed with high pressure arrangements. It can be used as describedhereinafter, in conjunction with window box type units or ceiling units.Merely as an example, the contemplated high pressure system can be onein which the size of the ducts leading to the dampers controlling airsupply to a distributing unit can have a maximum diameter of about 2" to6" or its equivalent, the pressure being about 2" of water staticpressure, and the potential velocity of air in the air ducts beingbetween about 1500 and 3500 feet per minute. The maximum diameter may beas high as for a ceiling type unit.

When using high pressure or high velocity air, pressure reducing zonecontrol distributing units are required. The zone control pressurereducing distributing units can have cold and warm conditioned air fedthereto from one or a plurality of central air conditioning devices.

In a preferred arrangement of the invention, cold and warm air ducts areconnected to a pressure reducing zone control distributing unit, dampersbeing provided for each unit. The dampers can be operated by a dampermotor, which in turn can be controlled by a suitable room or zonethermostat. The damper motor can be connected to the damper by yieldablemechanism in the connections of the damper motor and dampers so thatwhen a closed valve is to be opened in response to a condition change,travel of the other valve from an open toward a closed position willtake place before the closed valve opens. In the present invention,further air control'means is provided surrounding the damper and locatedadjacent the duct outlet for cooperating with the dampers in metering orcontrolling the flow of air to the pressure reducing distributing unit.The damper motor may be a conventional air motor or may be an electricmotor.

This invention is an improvement over that disclosed in applicantscopending application, Serial No. 158,840, filed April 28, 1950, nowPatent No. 2,620,983. These and other objects, advantages and featuresof the invention will become apparent from the following description anddrawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, with a portion cut away, depicting awindow box type of zone control distributing unit, the right or warm airvalve being illustrated in fully open position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view partially in section of the damper means ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a modified form of the air control means surrounding theduct such as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

The invention will be described in conjunction with a window box type ofzone controlling distributing unit wherein the unit is located under thewindow of a building. It can be used, however, in conjunction withceiling or other distributing units.

Casing 20 may be located under window 21, the casing having a suitablesound absorbing material 22 in the inside thereof if desired. Cold airsupply duct 23 can be connected with the casing, said duct beingconnected with the cold air conduit of a central air conditioningapparatus. Warm air duct 24 is shown approximately the same size as coldair duct 23 but it normally is not quite as large. For example, it maybe about of the size of the cold air duct. The warm air duct can besuitably joined with the central air conditioning apparatus warm airconduit.

Damper motor 25 may be of any suitable type such as a conventionaldiaphragm operated air motor. Pressure relay 26 may have control airpipe 27 connected thereto, the relay being controlled by thermostat 29through line 30. Thermostat 29 may be located in a duct leading betweenan intake grille 31 and an outlet passage 32 in the top 33 of the windowbox casing 20.

The window box casing 20 may have a slot 34 therein for discharging themixed air at reduced pressure into the room.

Air issuing from outlet slot 34 will cause air to be drawn or aspiratedthrough grille 31 and over the thermostat. It is to be understood thatthe thermostat may be located as desired in the zone to be controlled.

The damper motor 25 can be adjustably mounted on frame 35, brackets 36having a suitable shaft 37 arranged therebetween upon which is mountedconnecting arm means 38. Connecting arm means 38 may have a lever arm 39with a suitable link 40 (Figs. 2 and 3) connecting it with the piston inthe damper motor 25.

The outer ends of arm means 38 have pivotally mounted thereon clevisesor link members 41, the link members having a screw-threaded aperture 42therein for adjustably receiving the threaded ends of connecting rods43. Lock nuts 44 can be used on said rods for locking them in placeafter they are adjustably positioned therein.

Rods or plungers 43 may be guided in bushings 66 in plate 45, plate 45being secured in place on frame 4-6 by means of bolts 47.

Cold air conduit 23 is positioned in frame 46 and can have a seat 48upon which the valve or damper element 49 may rest so as to close offthe cold air conduit. Valve element 49 may be of a suitable valvematerial such as sponge rubber, or the like.

The valve element 49 can be held by a valve plate 51 which is fastenedto guide 52 having a bushing 53 therein for guiding rod 43. The valveassembly is held together by rivets or fastening means 54 passingthrough suitable apertures in plate 51 and ring 55. Adjustable collar 56is mounted on rod 43, the collar serving as an abutment for spring 57which has one end in abutting relationship with plate 51 and alsoserving to govern the overtravel of rod or plunger 43 relative to theclosed valve assembly.

Warm air duct 24 has a damper arrangement which is similar to thatdescribed for the cold air duct. Valve or damper element 58 cancooperate with seat 59 to close off the warm air from duct 24. Rod 43Ahas a collar 56A serving as an abutment for spring 57A, similar tocollar 44, rod 43A being guided in bushing 53A in the same manner asdescribed for the cold air damper.

Cylindrical or suitably shaped air control elements 60, 60A are arrangedsurrounding the opening of ducts 23 and 24 respectively and alsosurrounding the paths of dampers 49 and 50. The air control elements 60and 6-3A may have a plurality of rows of apertures 61 therein, only afew of the apertures being illustrated in Figure 2 in order to simplifythe drawing. The valve elements 49 and 58 cooperate with theirrespective air control means after having opened their conduits so as tosuitably control the passage of air into the pressure reducingdistributing means.

Yieldable means including rods 43, 43A and springs 57, 57A connectingthe damper motor with the dampers can be arranged so that when one ofthe dampers is fully opened and the damper motor calls for the otherconduit to be opened, the fully opened damper will be closed apredetermined amount before the closed damper is opened.

This can be accomplished, for example, as illustrated in Figure 2, coldair damper 49 being shown completely closed and spring 57 being showncompressed. As the damper motor turns the lever arrangement 38 clockwiseto the dot-dash position, damper 58 will be moved until it assumes thedot-dash position 62. During this movement, abutment 63 on plunger 43will move upwardly to the dot-dash position 63' at which time the collar56 will have moved upwardly to the dot-dash position 56'. When thispoint is reached, further movement of the motor will open damper 49because of the contact of abutment 63 with guide 52. It is apparent,however, that such will not occur until damper 58 has moved from a fullyopen position to position 62.

The initial opening of the damper 49 is arranged so that. the aperturesin air control element 60 will control the flow of air from conduit 23in such a manner as to prevent an upset of conditions in the room and soas to prevent noise reaching the room.

An alternate form of air control element or cylinder is illustrated inFigure 4 wherein the rows of apertures of Figure 2 can be replaced bytapered slots 64 in the walls 65. It is possible to change therelationship of the parts by changing the lengths of connections andchanging the relative positions of the stop collars 56 and 56A.

It is to be understood that variations may be made in the details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit of the invention exceptas defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an air conditioning apparatus for a zone, the combinationincluding a warm air inlet duct and a cold air inlet 'du'ct, a damperfor each duct, thermostatically controlled damper operating'rneans,connecting means between said operating means and said dampers formoving one of said dampers toward closing position while moving theother toward open position, each of said connecting means being movablyengaged with its damper, yieldable means in 'each of said connectionsproviding for travel of one of said connections relative to its damperwhen the damper is closed and before it is opened as the other damper ismoved toward a closing position limiting the total volume of airadmitted from said ducts as the dampers are operated, and valve memberssurrounding the path of travel of each damper, said valve members havingair control apertures therein in the path of the air and in closeproximity to said dampers cooperating with said dampers for controllingthe flow of air into said zone.

2. In a high pressure air conditioning apparatus, the combinationincluding a pressure reducing box, a high pressure warm air inlet ductin fluid communication with said box and a high pressure cold air inletduct in fluid communication with said box, a damper for each duct,thermostatically controlled damper operating means, connecting meansbetween each of said operating means and said dampers for moving one ofsaid dampers toward closing position while moving the other toward openposition, each of said connecting means being movably eng'aged with itsdamper, yieldable means in said connections providing for travel of oneof said connections relative to its damper when the damper is closed andbefore it is opened as the other damper is moved toward a closingposition limiting the total volume of air admitted from said duct at anyinstant while the dampers are being operated, and means cooperating withsaid dampers and in the path of the fiow of air from said ducts to saidbox controlling flow of air from a duct into said box after its damperhas moved to admit air from its duct to the box.

3. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination including a pair ofdampers, a pair of ducts controlled by said dampers, a damper operatingmotor, a pivoted arm connected to its respective motor, plungersconnecting said arm to said damper for moving one of said dampers towardclosing position while moving the other toward opening position, each ofsaid plungers being movably engaged with its damper an abutment on eachplunger engageable with its damper, a spring acting on each dampernormally urging each abutment into contact with its respective damper,each of said springs being yieldable as its respective damper is closed,said spring for its respective damper being in yielded condition whenthe other damper is in full open position, so that as the damper motoris operated to open a closed damper, the open damper will close from itsfull open position before the closed damper is engaged by the abutmenton its plunger, adjustable motion limiting means on each of saidplungers engageable with a damper to limit motion of the plunger, andvalve means surrounding each duct and cooperating with its damper incontrolling flow of air therefrom, each valve means having aperturestherein.

4. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination comprising an airdistributing means, a pair of air supply ducts and dampers therefor, aplunger slidably connected to each damper, condition responsive meansconnected to said plunger for each damper, yieldable spring means forovertravel of a plunger after its damper has been closed, adjustableabutment means on each plunger limiting said overtravel, said overtravelgoverning the amount the other damper closes as the closed damper isopened and limiting the total amount of air supplied at any time whilethe dampers are being operated, and means surrounding each damper, saidmeans having apertures therein cooperating with its damper forcontrolling admission of air from its duct into said air distributingmeans.

5. In an air conditioning apparatus for a zone, the'c'ombinationincluding a warm air inlet duct and a cold air inlet duct, a damper foreach duct, thermostatically controlled damper operating means,connecting means between said operating means and each of said dampersfor moving one of said dampers toward closing position while moving theother toward opening position, each of saidconn'ecting means beingmovably engaged with its References Cited in the file of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS Crane Apr. 14, Mihan Jan. 9, Titus May 6,Bugenhagen May 30, Wilputte Nov. 14, Ruths May 1, Stewart Nov. 25, DeweyFeb. 16,

FOREIGN PATENTS Italy June 24,

